Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to (a) the Home Office or (b) HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales that (i) the Social Work Services Inspectorate and (ii) the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care be involved in the monitoring and inspection of Dungavel House Detention Centre.

Nicol Stephen: The Home Office is responsible for the Immigration Detention Centre at Dungavel House, Strathavon under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales is responsible for inspection. However, the Immigration Service have consulted with the host authority, South Lanarkshire Council and Social Work Services Inspectorate regarding the provision of services. It is anticipated that The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will be consulted about arrangements for inspection.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, whether it will make the Capercaillie Biodiversity Action Plan guidance on snare setting statutory.

Allan Wilson: I currently have no plans to make the guidance statutory.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, whether it will prohibit the use of snares in capercaillie habitats.

Allan Wilson: No. The use of snares to control pest species of wild animal such as foxes and rabbits is legally permitted subject to certain conditions relating to their use. Snares set must be of an approved type and must, by law, be checked at least once a day.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, whether it will undertake an investigation into the problems of all types of snaring carried out in capercaillie habitats and adjacent areas, including the (a) number, (b) sex, (c) age, (d) circumstances and (e) cause of death of birds snared.

Allan Wilson: No. Guidance has been prepared by the Capercaillie Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group, which aims to reduce the accidental snaring of capercaillie.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, whether it will keep a central record of snaring in capercaillie habitats.

Allan Wilson: No. The use of snares to target pest species such as foxes and rabbits is a matter for individual landowners or their agents.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, whether it will outline what other protective measures it will undertake as part of the integrated national strategy to protect capercaillie.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is committed to safeguarding the capercaillie population in Scotland and a wide range of measures have already been applied to tackle the decline in capercaillie numbers.

  These include the implementation of actions set out in the Biodiversity Species Action Plan for Capercaillie. With funding from the Scottish Executive the Forestry Commission spent £700,000 from September 2001 to March 2002 on the removal and marking of deer fences in Scotland.

  The recent award of almost £2.5 million from the EU LIFE-Nature Fund supports a five year project directed at capercaillie conservation. An equal sum will be secured from a number of public and non public bodies including the Scottish Executive.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, whether it is considering the release of captive-bred capercaillie in order to augment the wild population.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is aware of advice from the Capercaillie Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group, recommending release of captive-bred capercaillie, on condition that the trial site is south of the central belt. I understand that the purpose of this trial would be to assess the feasibility of a release project and to perfect methodologies and techniques. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, any trial could only go ahead on the basis of a licence approved by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27092 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, who the experts are on the Throughcare and Aftercare Working Group and how they were appointed to this group.

Cathy Jamieson: The Throughcare and Aftercare Working Group was formed following consultation on proposals to enhance throughcare and aftercare services for young people leaving care. Key organisations and agencies were invited to nominate a representative to sit on the working group, which is chaired by the Scottish Executive. Membership of the group is as follows:

  Tam Baillie, The Big Step

  Vivienne Boyle, Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum

  Alison Caulfield-Dow, Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum

  Mary Carson, Careers Scotland

  Patricia Coltart, Association of Directors of Social Work

  John Dickie, Scottish Council for Single Homeless

  Jean Downie, Association of Directors of Social Work

  Julie-Anne Jamieson, Careers Scotland

  Liz Lafferty, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Fred McBride, Association of Directors of Social Work

  Stephen McGinley, Who Cares? Scotland

  Alex Ross, Careers Scotland

  Deirdre Watson, Who Cares? Scotland

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27095 by Cathy Jamieson on 10 July 2002, whether the amount of resources available to local authorities to develop throughcare and aftercare services and assist young people with the transition to independent living has increased, decreased or remained the same since 1999-2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The funding available to local authorities has increased since 1999-2000 as detailed in my answer to question S1W-27095. In addition to the funding from the Children’s Services Development Fund and the Changing Children’s Services Fund it is for local authorities to determine their service priorities from the resources made available to them through their revenue grant allocation to meet their legislative duties.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27104 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, by what means the quality of pre-school education will be improved; what aspects of provision the Commission for the Regulation of Care and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education will be inspecting; how the £7.2 million for 2002-04 has been allocated, and how it will be used to support workforce expansion and development, and in what ways the Executive is working with Learning and Teaching Scotland and others to improve children's transition from pre-school education to primary school.

Cathy Jamieson: Integrated inspections of pre-school services, undertaken by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, will aim to promote improvement in the quality of both education and care. In doing so, the Care Commission and HMIE will take account of Child at the Centre , Curriculum Framework for Children Aged 3-5  and the National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16.

  All early years services delivering elements of both care and learning will be subject to an integrated inspection regime. Details of how this will be delivered will be finalised shortly.

  The additional £7.2 million to support workforce expansion and development has been allocated directly to local authorities, which will be free to determine how the resources can best be used to meet local workforce development needs. £3.6 million has been allocated for each of the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04. This is in addition to the £2 million which was allocated to authorities in late March 2002, which can be spent during the financial year 2002-03. The way in which these funds have been allocated to each local authority is shown in the following table.

  


 Council 
  

2001-02
(£) 
  

2002-03
(£) 
  

2003-04
(£) 
  



 Aberdeen City 
  

74,725 
  

136,369 
  

136,369 
  



 Aberdeenshire 
  

89,986 
  

166,162 
  

166,162 
  



 Angus 
  

46,082 
  

80,446 
  

80,446 
  



 Argyll and Bute 
  

36,782 
  

62,289 
  

62,289 
  



 Clackmannanshire 
  

26,896 
  

42,987 
  

42,987 
  



 Dumfries and Galloway 
  

57,258 
  

102,265 
  

102,265 
  



 Dundee City 
  

56,146 
  

100,095 
  

100,095 
  



 East Ayrshire 
  

50,952 
  

89,953 
  

89,953 
  



 East Dunbartonshire 
  

44,766 
  

77,877 
  

77,877 
  



 East Lothian 
  

40,192 
  

68,946 
  

68,946 
  



 East Renfrewshire 
  

40,124 
  

68,814 
  

68,814 
  



 Edinburgh, City of 
  

140,694 
  

265,165 
  

265,165 
  



 Eilean Siar 
  

19,039 
  

27,648 
  

27,648 
  



 Falkirk 
  

57,418 
  

102,578 
  

102,578 
  



 Fife 
  

125,984 
  

236,445 
  

236,445 
  



 Glasgow City 
  

208,637 
  

397,816 
  

397,816 
  



 Highland 
  

80,985 
  

148,591 
  

148,591 
  



 Inverclyde 
  

38,982 
  

66,585 
  

66,585 
  



 Midlothian 
  

37,189 
  

63,083 
  

63,083 
  



 Moray 
  

39,794 
  

68,169 
  

68,169 
  



 North Ayrshire 
  

57,391 
  

102,526 
  

102,526 
  



 North Lanarkshire 
  

122,893 
  

230,409 
  

230,409 
  



 Orkney Islands 
  

16,672 
  

23,026 
  

23,026 
  



 Perth and Kinross 
  

52,321 
  

92,627 
  

92,627 
  



 Renfrewshire 
  

70,378 
  

127,881 
  

127,881 
  



 Scottish Borders 
  

43,504 
  

75,412 
  

75,412 
  



 Shetland Islands 
  

18,567 
  

26,726 
  

26,726 
  



 South Ayrshire 
  

45,530 
  

79,368 
  

79,368 
  



 South Lanarkshire 
  

113,758 
  

212,574 
  

212,574 
  



 Stirling 
  

37,086 
  

62,882 
  

62,882 
  



 West Dunbartonshire 
  

43,648 
  

75,693 
  

75,693 
  



 West Lothian 
  

65,621 
  

118,593 
  

118,593 
  



 Scotland 
  

2,000,000 
  

3,600,000 
  

3,600,000 
  



  The Scottish Executive has been working closely with Learning and Teaching Scotland to develop assessment in pre-school settings, and to provide guidance on how to avoid damaging discontinuities in children’s experience, when they move on to primary school. On 18 March this year, I launched Progress With Purpose, a multi-media pack of staff development materials, which was developed by Learning and Teaching Scotland. This pack aims to promote continuity in children’s learning between the ages of three and eight. Its contents are consistent with the Executive’s wider work on assessment, which is being taken forward by an action group chaired by the deputy minister.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27105 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, in what ways reducing the role of nursery teachers will contribute to providing a more user-focussed service.

Cathy Jamieson: The Guidance on the Involvement of Teachers in Pre-school Education  was drawn up to take account of the skills of all staff involved in meeting children’s needs.

  It does not seek to reduce teacher involvement but to allow a more flexible approach to the deployment of teachers, taking account of the needs of centres, the integration of early education and childcare, and the abilities and experience of other staff with different training in pre-school. Making best use of the different skills and expertise of the whole staff group will assist services to meet the unique needs of each child.

  A commitment by all staff to use their collective skills and knowledge for the benefit of children and families offers a strong basis for positive joint working. Trained teachers will continue to play a vital part in early education as part of a broader team.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27105 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, what the targets and aims of pre-school education are.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive is committed to the continuation of the pre-school education programme. From April 2002, under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act (2000) local authorities have been placed under a duty to provide a free part-time pre-school education place for all three and four year olds whose parents wish one.

  Pre-school education is designed to provide a broad range of planned learning opportunities, in line with the Curriculum Framework for Children three to five, which supports the development of the child. Pre-school education can broaden the range of children’s learning experiences, to leave them confident, eager and enthusiastic learners, ready for the transition to school.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27106 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, who the members were of the working group of practitioners involved in drawing up the Guidance on Involvement of Teachers in Pre-school Education .

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is given in page 19 of the Guidance on Involvement of Teachers in Pre-school Education published by the Scottish Executive Education Department on 21 January 2002 a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18978).

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27106 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, whether it will provide specific details of the research that formed the basis for the new Guidance on Involvement of Teachers in Pre-school Education .

Cathy Jamieson: The Guidance on Involvement of Teachers in Pre-school Education was informed by a range of evidence, including findings from research and inspection, and by the expertise of the working group members. The working group also considered individual case studies which looked at the different role played by teachers in a range of different early years provision and settings. A list of the centres involved in that study is given on page 19 of the guidance.

  The working group considered the results of a search of published literature databases which did not reveal a body of clear evidence about the specific difference a teacher makes. The group was also aware of various studies in America that suggest a strong correlation between high quality services for children and the presence of staff who are themselves highly educated. However, it is not clear from any research whether those benefits are linked to staff’s general level of education, or to the knowledge and skills gained through their specific qualifications.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27107 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, on what basis it is stated that overall standards in the private and voluntary centres have improved in the last four years, given that children's development and learning were not measured in the recent HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) report, Standards and Quality in Scottish Pre-school Education 1997-2001 .

Cathy Jamieson: The recent HMIE report,  Standards and Quality in Scottish Pre-school Education 1997-2001 included comment on the findings and the main trends from registration inspections of private and voluntary centres carried out between 1997 and 2001. Individual annual reports for 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 had already been published.

  In all of these inspections, evaluations were based on a suite of 25 HMIE performance indicators covering ethos, curriculum, quality of learning experience, accommodation and resources, and management and quality assurance. The overall pattern was one of improvement, with the proportion of good and very good performance identified in individual centres being higher in 2000-01 than in 1997-98 in the majority of the indicators. Of particular significance were improvements in structure and balance of the curriculum, the programmes in expressive and aesthetic development, aims and policy making, and opportunities for children to learn through play.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27108 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 July 2002, whether children's development and learning will be measured in future inspections of private and voluntary centres.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Douglas Osler, Chief Executive of HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), to respond. His response is as follows:

  In integrated inspections of private and voluntary centres, in addition to the National Care Standards, HMIE will use the Curriculum Framework for Children aged 3-5 and The Child at the Centre as benchmarks of the range and quality of experiences which children should be offered. Details of the inspection methodology are currently being finalised. It is envisaged, however, that the inspections will include evaluations of the programmes provided and of children’s progress in the key aspects of their development and learning. The key aspects cover emotional, personal and social development, communication and language, knowledge and understanding of the world, expressive and aesthetic development and physical development and movement. The aim will be to ensure that children are given as broad and balanced an experience as possible to assist their development and learning.

Childcare

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether qualifications improve the quality of the learning experience and whether providers performing less well in the HM Inspectorate report, Standards and Quality in Scottish Pre-school Education 1997-2001 had fewer staff with teaching qualifications.

Cathy Jamieson: While qualifications are clearly important, they are not in themselves sufficient to ensure a high quality of learning experience. On-going training and staff development and clear advice to staff on good practice also make important contributions to improving quality.

  The nature of the HM Inspectorate of Education inspections did not allow firm conclusions to be drawn about the relationship between numbers of staff with teaching qualifications and the quality of provision.

Digital Technology

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17355 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 1 October 2001, what information it has on which areas and exchanges have now been equipped with broadband asymmetrical digital subscriber line technology and which (a) area and (b) exchange (i) has and (ii) has not been equipped with such technology.

Iain Gray: At the moment, the following 67 Exchanges across Scotland have been ADSL enabled:

  


Aberdeen Balgownie 
  

Aberdeen Denburn 
  



Aberdeen Dyce 
  

Aberdeen Kincorth 
  



Aberdeen Lochnagar 
  

Aberdeen North 
  



Aberdeen West 
  

Alloa 
  



Arbroath 
  

Ayr 
  



Blantyre 
  

Cumbernauld 
  



Dalgety Bay 
  

Dumfries 
  



Dundee Park 
  

Dundee Steeple 
  



Dunfermline 
  

East Kilbride 
  



Edinburgh Abbeyhill 
  

Edinburgh Craiglockhart 
  



Edinburgh Dalkeith 
  

Edinburgh Dean 
  



Edinburgh Donaldson 
  

Edinburgh Fountainbridge 
  



Edinburgh Granton 
  

Edinburgh Leith 
  



Edinburgh Liberton 
  

Edinburgh Morningside 
  



Edinburgh Musselburgh 
  

Edinburgh Newington 
  



Edinburgh Portobello 
  

Edinburgh Rose Street 
  



Edinburgh Waverley 
  

Elgin 
  



Falkirk 
  

Glasgow Bridgeton 
  



Glasgow Central 
  

Glasgow Clydebank 
  



Glasgow Croftfoot 
  

Glasgow Douglas 
  



Glasgow Giffnock 
  

Glasgow Govan 
  



Glasgow Halfway 
  

Glasgow Ibrox 
  



Glasgow Langside 
  

Glasgow Maryhill 
  



Glasgow Merrylee 
  

Glasgow Paisley 
  



Glasgow Pollock 
  

Glasgow Renfrew 
  



Glasgow Rutherglen 
  

Glasgow Scotstoun 
  



Glasgow South 
  

Glasgow Western 
  



Hamilton 
  

Inverness Macdhuie 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

Kirkcaldy 
  



Livingston Station 
  

Motherwell 
  



Penicuik 
  

Perth 
  



Prestwick 
  

St Andrews 
  



Stirling Castle 
  

Troon 
  



Whitburn 
  






  These exchanges cover 34% of the Scottish population.

  In addition, BT have allocated demand "trigger points" to a further 62 exchanges in Scotland. Customers can register interest through designated Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and trigger points are reached when ISPs can confirm orders from a certain number of interested customers. At that point, BT will enable those exchanges. The exchanges with demand trigger points are:

  


Inverness Culloden 
  

Kilsyth 
  



Galashiels 
  

Irvine Stanecastle 
  



Edinburgh Loanhead 
  

Polmont 
  



Aberdeen Ashgrove 
  

Airdrie 
  



Alexandria 
  

Ardrossan 
  



Bannockburn 
  

Bathgate 
  



Bridge Of Wier 
  

Broxburn 
  



Buckie 
  

Coatbridge 
  



Cumnock 
  

Cupar Crossgates 
  



Dundee Broughty Ferry 
  

Dundee Fairmuir 
  



Edinburgh Corstorphine 
  

Edinburgh Davidsons 
  



Edinburgh Maybury 
  

Edinburghsouth Queensferry 
  



Forres 
  

Fort William 
  



Glasgow Baillieston 
  

Glasgow Barrhead 
  



Glasgow Bearsden 
  

Glasgow Bishopbriggs 
  



Glasgow Cambuslang 
  

Glasgow Kirkintilloch 
  



Glasgow Newton Mearns 
  

Glasgow Shettleston 
  



Glasgow Springburn 
  

Glenrothes Central 
  



Gourock 
  

Greenock 
  



Helensburgh 
  

Inverurie 
  



Irvine Oldtown 
  

Johnstone 
  



Kilwinning 
  

Lanark 
  



Larbert 
  

Largs 
  



Linlithgow 
  

Montrose 
  



Nairn 
  

Oban 
  



Stonehaven 
  

Stranraer 
  



Tranent 
  

Uddingston 
  



Wishaw 
  

Aberdeen Kingswells 
  



Forfar 
  

Livingston Bridge 
  



Hawick 
  

Inverkeithing 
  



Peterhead 
  

Fraserburgh 
  



  Were all of these exchanges to be upgraded, 78% of the Scottish population would have access to ADSL.

Emergency Planning

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of its preparedness for dealing with any risk of contamination from nuclear accidents or incidents.

Lewis Macdonald: Over the past 11 months there has been a thorough re-assessment of our preparedness to deal with nuclear incidents. Our preparedness for such incidents is tested during our participation in the programmes of exercises undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and by civil nuclear establishments. In addition the Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations 2001(REPPIR) came into force last year. These regulations implement the EURATOM Basic Safety Standards Directive (96/29) and replace the Public Information for Radiation Emergencies Regulations (PIRER) 1992.

Emergency Planning

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ensured an adequate supply of iodine pills for use in any case of nuclear accident or incident and what constitutes an adequate supply of such pills.

Malcolm Chisholm: Yes. The Scottish Executive has taken steps to ensure that a supply of stable iodine tablets adequate to satisfy potential needs following a nuclear accident or incident is in place. Potential needs arise only when the release contains radioactive iodine. Determination of adequacy has included assessment of the possible scale and spread of radioactive iodine emanating from such an accident or incident.

Emergency Planning

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it would distribute medication in the aftermath of any nuclear accident or incident.

Malcolm Chisholm: Distribution planning is a responsibility of NHS boards working with the operators of nuclear facilities, the police, local authorities and others who would be involved in the response to any nuclear accident or incident. Methods employed would depend on the nature, scale and circumstances of the accident or incident. In some circumstances distribution to people in their homes might be appropriate; in others, distribution might be effected at reception centres or other points at which people within an affected area would be collected.

Emergency Planning

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what size of area around any nuclear accident or incident would become a priority area for the distribution of medication.

Malcolm Chisholm: The size of the area around any nuclear accident or incident in which people might require medication would depend upon the nature, scale and circumstances of the accident or incident, together with actual and forecast meteorological conditions which might affect the behaviour of any emission of radioactive iodine from it.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be inviting NHS staff organisations to participate in discussions on hospital-acquired infections; if so, which staff organisations will be invited, and what format such forums will follow.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS staff organisations were invited to attend the recent Health care Associated Infection (HAI) Convention in Glasgow. Arrangements for further discussion of the issues including staff, patient and public involvement will be incorporated in the action plan following from the convention. This will be published later this year.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of (a) the membership of the Hospital-Acquired Infection Surveillance Steering Group and (b) the full remit of the group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The membership of the HAI Surveillance Steering Group, as co-ordinated by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) is as follows:

  


Dr David Old 
  

Dr Ahilya Noone 
  



Chairman 
  

Consultant Epidemiologist, SCIEH 
  



Dr Ian Auchterlonie 
  

Dr Rosie Hague 
  



Consultant Paediatrician 
  

Consultant in Infectious Diseases 
  



Dr Frank Bone 
  

Dr Anne Eastaway 
  



Consultant Microbiologist 
  

Consultant Microbiologist 
  



Dr Dilip Nathwani 
  

Professor David Rowley 
  



Infection & Immodeficiency Unit 
  

Prof. of Trauma & Orthopaedics 
  



Dr Jim Millar 
  

Dr J D Browning 
  



Consultant in Public Health 
  

(Medical Directors) 
  



Mr Andrew McMahan 
  

Dr Peter Wallace 
  



Consultant in Colorectal Surgeon 
  

Consultant Intensive Care & Anaesthesia 
  



Mr Richard Carey 
  

Mr Alex Cumming 
  



Chief Executive, Highlands 
  

Chief Executive, Grampian 
  



Dr Andrew Riley 
  

Dr Marion Bain / Mr Graeme Mitchell 
  



Director of Public Health, Borders 
  

ISD (Information & Statistics Division) 
  



Mr John MacKenzie 
  

Dr Rosalind Skinner 
  



Scottish Association 
  

Principal Medical Officer 
  



Health Councils 
  

Scottish Executive 
  



Ms Jackie Stewart 
  

Mrs Mary Henry 
  



Infection Control Nurse 
  

Consultant Nurse Epidemiologist 
  



Dr Stephanie Dancer 
  

 




Consultant Medical Microbiologist 
  

 




SCIEH 
  

 




  The remit of the group is "to oversee and advise on the implementation of a national system of surveillance of HAI in Scotland and to monitor and report on progress."

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend legislation governing right-to-buy for tenants of local authorities and housing associations.

Ms Margaret Curran: Orders have been laid to implement the right to buy provisions contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. These should bring about the agreed changes to the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 with effect from 30 September 2002. Details of the changes being introduced are contained in SEDD Circular 5/2002, entitled Housing (Scotland) Act 2001: The Modernised Right to Buy , which was issued recently and copies of which have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  In addition, following a consultation exercise earlier this year, we are proposing a new cost floor determination to commence at the same time as these right to buy measures are introduced. This determination will make relatively minor changes to the cost floor rules, primarily allowing for all "initial works" conducted by a social rented landlord following acquisition to count towards the cost floor and to ensure that where costs could be covered by a landlord’s insurance policy, they are not also added to the cost floor.

Justice

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22671 by Mrs Elish Angiolini on 7 May 2002, what the average time taken to bring a case to trial was in (a) sheriff courts and (b) high courts in each of the last 10 years.

Colin Boyd QC: Figures are not available beyond those given in reply to question S1W-22671 and, as regards proceedings on indictment, question S1W-22672 on 15 February 2002.

NHS Waiting Times

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27061 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 July 2002, whether it will collect and hold centrally information on performance against local waiting time targets.

Malcolm Chisholm: Monitoring and reporting performance against local waiting times targets is likely to be most effective when carried out by individual NHS boards and trusts. The National Waiting Times Unit is currently working with NHS boards on developing local waiting times standards which will focus on tackling the longest waits for first out-patient appointments with a specialist and for diagnostic tests. Information about performance against these local standards will be included in the National Waiting Times Database, which the unit is currently developing, and which will be available by the end of 2002.

Parliamentary Question

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will give a substantive answer to question S1W-25635, lodged on 7 May 2002.

Nicol Stephen: Question S1W-25635 has been answered today.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what scope there is to increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources.

Ross Finnie: As part of the Scottish Climate Change Programme, the Executive is committed to raising the overall proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources in Scotland to 18% by 2010. I believe that the potential exists to go much further. I am therefore today publishing a consultation paper that examines the opportunities to go beyond our existing policy objectives and further increase Scotland’s renewable energy in the period beyond 2010, potentially to as much as 40%.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities were instructed by it to set up registers of interest for the board members of social inclusion partnerships.

Hugh Henry: March 2002.

Waste Water

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its policy on first-time connections to the waste water system.

Ross Finnie: My officials are currently considering this matter and are in discussion with Scottish Water and Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Scottish Water is currently conducting a thorough survey of their network, with a view to understanding the scale of the development constraints problem and its implications. This task will enable the Executive to make an informed choice, and I will make my proposals known in due course.

Birds

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive with regard to its news release SEen088/2002, how much funding will be provided to captive breeding programmes as part of the integrated national strategy to protect capercaillie.

Allan Wilson: No funding is planned for captive breeding programmes as part of the LIFE Project.